WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXI, Issue XVII, 24 October 1903, Page 52

WELLINGTON.

Dear Bee. October 14. We have been enjoying the most delightful warm spring weather, and those who have got their summer dresses ant finery early have had good opportunities of wearing them. It has been beautifully calm, too, until the last few days, when our u-ual unpleasant spring winds have come round once more. It was a nice day. though windy, on Tuesday, for Mr and Mrs Charles Johnston's AFTERNOON AT HOME at their new residence, "Homewood,” Karori. The Karori-road was lined with carriages and vehicles of all kinds, conveying the guests from town, and looked quite festive. The fine large house which Mr and Mrs Johnston have just built on their old property at Karori is very handsome and comfortable. The rooms are large and plentiful, and the big square hall is quaintly artistic. A very delicious tea was laid tn the rich crimson-walled dining-room, and there was claret cup and champagne in addition to the usual afternoon tea delicacies. The house was decorated with palms and broom and sweet spring flowers. Mrs Johnston received in the hall, and wore a charming gown of soft black and white and pink striped brocade, -a dainty floral design, and with trimming of black lace insertion and pink silk applique and chiffon on the bodice: Miss Johnston wore white silk, trimmed with soft lace and insertion, and a green satin sash with long ends: Miss D. John--ton was in a white skirt and tucked silk blouse with lace insertions, white straw and ehiffon hat- Among the guests were Lady Stout, In a blue voile gown with white embroidered facings and a black hat: Mrs Arthur Dunean, wearing a pretty gown of deep cream crepe de chine with guipure insertions and a cream hat with pink roses; Miss E Johnston had a rich white glace silk with black laee insertion :-’id chiffon ruffle, black hat with tulle; Mrs Newman. dark blue Eton gown and a black hat with plumes; Mrs Menztes, black gown and silk applique jacket, violet bonnet: Mrs Babington. dark green frieze gown and a white felt hat with

brocaded ribbon and pink roses, ermine furs; Mrs Wallis, in a grey gown and black hat; Mrs Duncan, blaek and white satin gown with much eern lace, black and blue boanet; Miss Duncan, cream Eton gown and black hat with plumes: Mrs Fitzgerald, in black silk and black and white hat; Miss Fitzgerald, fawn eoat and skirt and cream hat. with green and pink ribbon; Mrs Harding, a black gown and velvet cape: Miss Harding, wore eream serge and a straw hat with flowers: Mrs Fell, black voile with cream lace and a black hat: Mrs Rhodes, black gown and handsome velvet and jet coat, black bonnet: Mrs Fitzherbert, in a violet gown and blaek lace jacket, blaek and violet bonnet; Miss Fitzherbert, in pale blue linen and a blaek hat; Mrs O’Conner wore a black costume and bonnet composed of pink roses with green leaves: Mrs (Judge) Williams, neat black gown and a blaek and white hat; Mrs Edwin, blue and white foulard satin and a black bonnet with pink flowers; Miss Edwin, in a pale blue gown with white vest and black hat with flowers; Mrs Levin, a cream gown with chiffon collar edged with pink silk roses, black hat with plumes: Mrs Gore, in black and blaek and mauve bonnet; Miss Gore, white skirt and silk blouse, and a black hat with plumes; Mrs. Kiddiford, a brown canvas gown, trimmed with cream laee and panne, and a cream straw hat with pink roses and laee; Mrs. Cooper wore a red silk, veiled with black

lace, and a blaek and white bonnet; Miss Cooper, blue lustre, with deep collar of ecru lace, black hat; Mrs. Pratt (Palmerston North) had a black gown, with much silk applique on the coat, and a black toque; Mrs. Purdy, grey Russian gown, black hat with spotted ribbon; Mrs. Adams, iu a grey gown and blaek silk and lace jacket, black hat: Mrs. Heaton Rhodes, pale grey gown, with white vest and a cream toque; Mrs. W. Fergtuon, biscuit-coloured voile, with lace and velvet to match, and a black toque; Mrs. Baldwin had a pale fawn cloth Eton gown, with swathed belt, and pipings of mauve panne, black toque with plumes; Mrs. Turn bull (Dunedin), black gown and cape, black and white bonnet; Mrs. W. Turnbull, a dark gown and large black hat; Mrs. Brandon, dark blue voile, with bands of coloured galloon, black toque trimmed with red flowers and lace; Miss Brandon, grey voile gown, with white lace yoke and a black toque; Mrs. AV. Johnston, blaek coat and skirt, and a blaek and white hat; Mrs. Tweed, cream silk voile gown, trimmed with lace and a black toque: Mrs. IV. Earton (Featherston). mourning costume; Mrs. Pearson, in a brown gown and toque to match: Mrs. Burns, black cloth gown, with stole ends of silk embroidery, green straw hat with foliage; Mrs L. Pharazyn. navy blue tailor-made gown, and straw hat with flowers; Mrs. Warren, a blue gown and pink trimming; Mrs. Rhind, in a white glaee silk gown, with insertions

•f black lace, black toque; Mrs. F. Loughnaii, black costume and toque; Mrs. R. I-oughnau had a dark coat and skirt and a red toque; Mrs. Barron, black coat and skirt, and jetted toque: Miss Barron, a mauve linen gown and cream and black hat; Mrs. Abbott, dark blue roile. strapped with silk, and a black toque; Miss Daniel, in grey lustre, and a large black hat; Mrs. Biss, green voile gown, trimmed with lace, and a black hat with feathers; Mrs. Wilson (England), in grey, ami a hat trimmed with flowers: Mrs. Gee. black voile and lace gown, and black hat: Mrs. Butler, white crepe de chine, with lace and touch of blue, black hat; Mrs. A. Crawford, black silk voile gown and heliotrope straw hat with foliage and flowers; Mrs. Medley, in black arid white; Mrs. Dyer had a black gown, trimmed with lace, and black hat: Mrs. C. Cooper, in a white frieze Eton gown and black hat; Mrs. Moss, pretty cream voile and lace gown, floral hat: Miss George, white crepe de chine gown, and a pink hat; Miss Williams (Hawke’s Bay), white skirt and tucked silk blouse, and a green hat trimmed with flowers; Miss E. Richmond, violet coat and skirt, and velvet toque to match: Miss Izard, a black and white spotted silk gown and cream hat with pink roses; Miss Harcourt, in pale blue muslin, and a. white hat: Miss A. Rawson. white Eton gown, and Victorian bonnet with blue and pink flowers; Miss 0. Rawson, white silk blouse and skirt, and a pale blue silk hat. Also General Babington, Captain Campbell, Dr. Newman, Dr. Fell, Messrs. Johnston (3), Dunean, Pharazyn, Pearson, Warren. Dyer. Harcourt, Butler, Brandon, Burnes and others. The holiday yesterday (Labour Day) was enjoyed by the public in their various ways. The weather was good, and the excursion ferry boats were well filled with holiday-makers, aud had the appearance of quite a summer's day. We are looking forward to the large ball at Government House next Wednesday. There are invitations out also for a -mall danee there on Saturday next, so we arc to finish bur daneink season well. OPHELIA.